Most
NASCAR fans know the Wood Brothers in their role as car owners. But, many may
not know, or perhaps forget, that they did get started in the sport actually
driving in races. The Wood Brothers started in NASCAR when Glen Wood drove at
the Morris Speedway near Martinsville, Virginia in 1950. Glen figured it might
be over when he was involved in a wreck about midway through the race. But,
Glen and his friends got the car back in shape and three weeks later, finished
third at Dan River Speedway. Glen's career behind the wheel continued until
1964. He won four races, raced on the beach at Daytona, and was named one of
NASCAR's fifty greatest drivers.
After Glen
retired from racing, he became a full-time owner in 1965. Joined by brother
Leonard, the Wood Brothers would become one of the best racing teams in NASCAR.
The race team set up shop in Stuart, Virginia. The also would adopt the #21 for
their race cars. Through the middle of the 60's, many of NASCAR's top drivers
drove for the Wood Brothers race team. That list included Marvin Panch,
Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner, Parnelli Jones, Tiny Lund, Junior Johnson,
Speedy Thompson, Fred Lorenzen, and Cale Yarborough. Also, in the 1960's the
Wood Brothers also recognized how pit stops could factor in the results of a
race. They created and mastered the art of doing pit stops during the races to
help their standings. The rest of the teams soon duplicated their pit stops
after what the Wood Brothers were doing.
The
success continued into the 1970's. Glen became the leader of the race team and
his younger sons, Eddie and Len, started working at the team's shop. Donnie
Allison and A.J. Foyt took turns driving the car. Another Wood Brother,
Delano, became one of NASCAR's greatest pit crew members. in 1972,
David Pearson signed with the team and would drive the famous #21 through 1979.
While driving for the Wood Brothers, Pearson won 46 races, 51 poles, and earned
over $1.3 million. In 1976, Pearson won the "Triple Crown" of racing, winning
the Daytona 500, World 600, and Southern 500.
In the
1980's other top NASCAR drivers were behind for the wheel for the Wood Brothers
including Neil Bonnett, Buddy Baker and Kyle Petty. In 1986, his second season
with the team, Kyle won his first race at Richmond. In 1987, he won the
Coca-Cola 600. It was also at this time when Len and Eddie as Glen retired late
in the decade, increased their duties with the team. Glen's daughter, Kim also
started working in the team's office in Stuart with her mother and Glen's wife
Bernece. It was in this time when NASCAR was going through many changes. As
the popularity and money in the sport increased, the Wood Brothers found it
difficult to retain the dominance they once had.
Neil
Bonnett returned to the Wood Brothers in 1989. On April 1, 1990, Bonnett
suffered serious injuries in a crash at Darlington. The injuries forced Bonnett
out of the car and the team had to find a driver to fill in. A young up and
coming driver named Dale Jarrett took over the ride. Dale won his first career
Winston Cup race at Michigan in 1991. Though he left after 1992, the Wood
Brothers help provide the opportunity Dale needed to jump start his career.
After Jarrett, Morgan Shepherd, Michael Waltrip, and Elliott Sadler drove the
car. Waltrip won The Winston in 1996 and Sadler had his first career win at
Bristol
in 2001. After Sadler left to join Robert Yates, Ricky Rudd and Ken Schrader
took their turns racing for the team. In 2007, the third generation of the Wood
family arrived when Jon started the season behind the wheel of the #21.
Currently, the car is driven by another one of NASCAR's greatest drivers in Bill
Elliott.
Known as
"The Virginia Gentlemen", the Wood Brothers remain favorites among those in
NASCAR. The past achievements along with the who's-who list of drivers who have
raced for them prove their place in the sport. In 2000, Glen and Leonard were
inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame and the team's 50th anniversary was
celebrated. The team is now equally owned by Glen
By:
CrimsonCowboy